Bryan Danielson Reacts to The Rock’s Shocking Transformation at the 2025 Venice Film Festival

On top of that, Danielson showed off his sense of humor, joking that The Rock doesn’t look quite as “handsome and jacked” as he once did. He even played along with the viral ‘from Rock to Pebble’ jokes, all delivered in good fun and lighthearted spirit.

Guess what, Rock? You’re not so handsome anymore. How does it feel? I mean, he’s still obviously much more handsome than me. But how does it feel to not be as handsome as you used to be? Take that. Didn’t that look like a big head? And it might just be that we never noticed because he was so jacked, he just always had this giant head.

Bryan Danielson via Jon-Bernand Kairouz’s podcast

As for his WWE run, fans haven’t seen The Rock since he masterminded John Cena’s shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber 2025 alongside Travis Scott. Many expected him to resurface at WrestleMania 41 or even make an appearance at SummerSlam, but neither came to pass. For now, it seems the TKO board member has stepped away from the ring, and a return doesn’t appear to be on the horizon.

The Rock posts a heartfelt message for director Benny Safdie after The Smashing Machine’s success at the Venice Film Festival

The Rock has long been known for his blockbuster hits like The Mummy, Black Adam, and Baywatch, roles that often saw him typecast as the larger-than-life action hero. But with Mark Kerr’s biopic, he’s stepping into more meaningful and dramatic territory. Instead of another high-octane spectacle, Johnson is embracing a role that could elevate his acting career and showcase a depth audiences haven’t seen before.

The effort is already paying off. The Smashing Machine arrived at the Venice Film Festival with huge buzz, and director Benny Safdie walked away with the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director, announced on September 6 at the festival’s 82nd edition. The honor prompted The Rock to share a heartfelt Instagram post celebrating Safdie, praising both the filmmaker’s brilliance and the emotional depth of the project.

We got very emotional because an incredible thing happened to a beautiful human being tonight. Congratulations Benny Safdie @bowedtie for winning the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival for directing, “The Smashing Machine. Benny’s singular and signature vision for “The Smashing Machine” was to create a real experience for the audience of radical empathy, through raw human vulnerability.

The Rock via Instagram

In his acceptance speech, Safdie surprisingly left out his brother, Josh Safdie, and instead thanked A24, the producers, Mark Kerr, Emily Blunt , and Dwayne Johnson. He even called Johnson “my friend, my brother, and partner.” For the unversed, Safdie confirmed in 2024 that he and Josh have split creatively and will no longer co-direct films together.